Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Local Hockey

A good night for both Beaver Brae Hockey teams.

The boys beat Dryden 6 to 3.

Meanwhile, The Bronco Girls beat St. Thomas Aquinas 7 to 2.

Coach Dave Craven says his team started the game a little nervous but soon recovered.

The battle of Kenora was the first time T.A. and Beaver Brae's girls teams met each other in regular season play.

T.A. and Beaver will play eachother again in January.

Dryden New Elementary School

The Keewatin Patricia District School Board has awarded the contract for the new Dryden Elementary School.

Finnway General Contractor will build the school for just over 13 million dollars, with the entire project coming in at over 16 million.

Superintendent of Business Dean Carrie says the harmonized sales tax will have an impact on the total cost of the project.

Carrie adds they were able to reach a lower price for the project after changing to a spring construction which avoids the need for heating.

Director's Report KPDSB

The Keewatin Patricia District School Board is looking back at its key initiatives in 2009.

Larry Hope presented his last Director's report at last night's board meeting and reflected on the
public board's succesful initiatives.

The report shows that 33.9 percent of students self identify as First Nation, while just over 8 percent identify as Metis.

Hope says they continue to increase their instructional capacity in native language and studies.

KPDSB Executive Election

No changes to the Keewatin Patricia District School Board's executive.

Both Dave Penny and Cecil Marcino were re-elected as Chair and Vice Chair at last night's school board meeting.

An advisory trustee from Savant Lake one of the new schools added to board's cachement area tendered his resignation.

Allan Best served as Savant Lake's trustee for 29 years and feels he's no longer is being consulted on matters relating to the education of the students in his community.

Fort Frances Car Chase

A Fort Frances Youth faces a number charges in connection to a lengthy car chase this past weekend.

The OPP in Fort Frances says they tried to pull over a vehicle after they noticed the driver wasn't wearing a seatbelt early Sunday morning.

The driver refused to stop and ran through several intersections, failingto stop at traffic lights and stop signs.

The car eventually drove into a dead end road at Pithers Point Park.

Police blocked off the exit, but the driver rammed through the cruisers and sped off.

Officers finally managed to force the car off the road into a snowbank.

The occupants of the vehicle fled on foot, but were caught a short timelater.

The driver has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, fleeing from police,
three counts of assault of a peace officer with a weapon, and two counts of mischief under five thousand dollars.

Abitibi Resolutions

Kenora City Council says its willing to support a resolution calling on the federal and provincial levels of government to work with AbitibiBowater and its unions to protect employee pensions.

The union wants to set up a trust fund to protect the pensions of some 29 thousand current and retired workers.

AbitibiBowater is currently under bankruptcy protection, butthe Communication, Energy and Paperworkers union is worriedthat workers could lose up to 27 percent of their pensions ifthe
company goes broke.

The resolution suggests that pension income reductions will have a negative impact on National, provincial and municipal economies.

Fire Pumper

The City of Kenora is looking to purchase a new fire truck for the Emergency Services Department.

The fire department is looking to purchase a new pumper truck next year.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says the lowest bid came in at 414 thousand dollars from Fort Garry Fire Trucks.

He says the cost is slightly over budget, so they plan to use 39 thousand dollars they receieved for the provincial government's fire service grant to help pay for the vehicle.

Fatal House Fire Pikangikum

Tragedy in the remote Northern community of Pikangikum, north of Red Lake.

Two girls, a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, perished in a house fire on the north edge of the community last Friday.

Band officials stated yesterday that their mother, Victoria Quill suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, when she attempted to rescue her 2-children.

Quill was airlifted to Hospital in Winnipeg.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Utility Trailer Fire

The Kenora Fire Department was called to Keewatin this morning to put out a small fire.

The KMTS Utility trailer parked on Superior Street caught fire around 9 Tuesday morning.

Fire officials say the cause of the blaze was a cardboard box left too close to a hot exhaust pipe.

Fire crews made quick work of the fire and put it out shortly after arriving on the scene.

Thin Ice Conditions

Use common sense this winter.

The OPP are reminding the public to be cautious of ice on area lakes during this time of year.

Kenora Constable Dave Cain says with the colder weather kids are eager to play on the ice.

Cain adds you need to be absolutely sure of the ice conditions before venturing out.

The Ontario Snowmobile Safety Committee states a minimum ice thickness of 10 cm is needed before you walk on the frozen body of water and 12 cm or more for snow machines.

Drive Test Strike Continues

Ontario's Drive Test Instructors continue to hit the picket lines in its 15 week strike.

Kenora Rain River MPP Howard Hampton says it was a big mistake to privatize driving tests.

Hampton says the workers are looking for better working conditions.

A provincially appointed conciliator is working with the Drive Test Company and the Instructors
Union, but both sides say little progress has been made.